Home Blog Page 449

Vava‘u law enforcement officers strike again: more expired goods seized from businesses within a week

By
Kalino Latu
-

[maxbutton id=”2″ ]

Disputes over expiry dates on meat boxes ended in a decision to seize and destroy expired cartons of meats in Vava’u on Tuesday.

Neiafu Town Officer Vāvā Lapota claimed some cartons of meats arrived in Vava’u in what he described as “repacked” boxes.

He also claimed some of these frozen meats were expired according to their expiry dates recorded on the boxes but the business owners who purchased the meats insisted the dates showed the meats were still in good condition for consumption.

There had been claims the meats had been imported from the USA and their expiry dates had been written as month / date / year. This was  not how abbreviated dates were normally written in Tonga in which they were sequentially written as date / month / year.

Lapota also claimed some of the meats appeared to have changed colours and showed signs of spoilage.

He disputed the meats at the wharf leading to a hold on its release while senior authorities were being contacted.

READ MORE

The meats and other expired goods, however, were released by Food inspectors.

The disputes finally reached the main office in Tongatapu and the law enforcement officers went to the store owner this week and seized the disputed goods before they destroyed them, Lapota told Kaniva News.

The seizure came just within a week after another bust led to destroying of a large amount of canned foods, cooking products and expired goods in Neiafu.

Food Ministry CEO Dr Viliami Manu told TBC it was believed businesses sent their expired goods and sold them in the outer islands.

He said 30 cartons of chicken seized in Vava’u had their expiry dates written as 9/2/2020. He said the chicken boxes were imported from the USA and according to that country’s labelling expiry dates format on goods the chicken boxes had an expiry date of September/ Second of May /2020.

He reportedly said the Food Ministry has just assigned an inspector to join the Customs services at the wharf to inspect some of the imported meats and canned foods from overseas.

As Kaniva reported on April 22, a complaint from the Neiafu town officer has led to seizures of expired goods from a number of  convenience stores.

We also reported claims businesses in Neiafu hid their expired goods in other places when authority inspected their stores.

Before that instance we reported that around 400 boxes of rotting chicken have been destroyed in Vava’u after authorities inspected a refrigerated container at a Chinese shop in Neiafu in February.

Bags of expired flours and rotting salted beefs were previously found at this store before the February bust.

Tongan players will make their mark for NZ Warriors if 2020 NRL round gets underway

By
Philip Cass
-

Whenever and whether the New Zealand Warriors take part in a revived NRL round, Tongan players are likely to make their presence felt on the field.

The Warriors have been expected to fly to Australia on Sunday to go into training for a revived NRL season at a proposed quarantine station in Tamworth.

But now there is also talk they could play their NRL games at Mt Smart stadium in Auckland.

And there is also confusion over how much the players will be paid for taking part.

It’s an important issue for the team members who could be in Australia for five or six months.

The Warriors have been granted permission from the Australian government for a border clearance, but still need clearance from the New south wales state government.

As well as an 18 week club season, the State of Origin series is expected to be played in November.

The Warriors currently have 10 players with Tongan connections on the books.

They include Albert Vete, who has also played internationally for Tonga and Melbourne storm;  Solomone Kata who has played for both Tonga and New Zealand internationally;  fellow New Zealand and Tonga internationals Tuimoala Lolohea and Siliva Havili; Ben Murdoch-Masila who has represented and played in the UK and Australian; John Palavi, who has competed in Queensland and France; David Fusitu’a, who was  the NRL’s top try scorer in 2018 and part of Tonga’s world breaking push in 2017, Tongan international Glen Fisiiahi, Agnatius Paasi, who has played in Australia and for Tonga and fellow  Tongan international Leivaha Pulu.

PM in talks with Real Tonga airline’s owner, but denies reports gov’t set up its own airline

By
Kalino Latu
-

[maxbutton id=”2″ ]

Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa has denied rumours the government has passed a resolution to set up its own airline.

But Hon. Tu’i’onetoa confirmed he had been in personal talks with Real Tonga’s owner about the airline’s future.

He said pilots from Real Tonga who had been laid off following a dramatic drop in revenue following the Covid-19 crisis and subsequent restrictions had approached the government and asked them to run an airline.

He said the government was still reviewing the proposal.

“It is important for the nation to know that the government does not take this lightly,” the Prime Minister said.

“The expense for operating an airline is huge and none of the previous airline operators in Tonga made any profit whatsoever.

“However, the service is required for the people.”

He said after seven years in business Real Tonga still faced problems and had approached the government for help.

There were contractual difficulties arising from the leasing of the Chinese-made Y12 and MA60 aircraft from the government.

He said a Cabinet committee had been set up to look at the  best option for the future.

The committee had offered two options; one for the government to keep operating Real Tonga either on its own or in partnership with the existing management; or with somebody else.

“The second option was not really supported by the committee’s report, but the other option still has problems,” the Prime Minister said.

He said it still had to be determined which would be the cheapest option.

Other questions to be answered included whether it would be profitable if the government ran it, whether the government would have to financially support Real Tonga if they kept flying and whether anybody else would be interested in running an airline in the kingdom.

The Prime Minister said Cabinet also had to consider whether an air service could cover the cost of flights to  Eua, Ha’apai and Vava’u and the Niuas or whether they would need a government subsidy.

The same question applied to flights to  Ha’apai, ‘Eua and Vava’u.

Real Tonga

Like every airline in the world, Real Tonga has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Border and airport closures and internal lockdowns have eliminated many markets. The International Air Transport Association is predicting a fall of almost 50% in passenger traffic this year.

Apart from internal services, Real Tonga operates a service to Samoa and there have been promises of a service to Auckland.

However, it has faced complaints over its prices. In 2017 Palu hit back at criticisms of Real Tonga’s ticket prices by the then Prime Minister, the late ‘Akilisi Pohova, who said the kingdom needed two airlines.

He said the amount charged for aircraft leases by the government were more expensive than normal commercial lease compare to similar capacity aircraft type.

Hon. Pohiva’s comments came after his government refused an operating license for Tonga Airlines.

Palu said airfares in Tonga could be reduced by having lower fuel prices, localisation of pilots and engineers, better airports and weather forecast systems, fewer taxes and better regulatory support from the government.

The main points

  • Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa has denied rumours the government has passed a resolution to set up its own airline.
  • But Hon. Tu’I’onetoa confirmed he had been in personal talks with Real Tonga’s owner about the airline’s future.

For more information 

Real Tonga CEO denies claims of cheap aircraft leases, says no room for second airline

Government no longer owns Kalonikali Tonga newspaper, PM Tu‘i‘onetoa says

By
Kalino Latu
-

[maxbutton id=”2″ ]

Local media have questioned this week why the government has revived its previously unpopular owned local newspaper known as Kalonikali Tonga.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has denied this to Kaniva News.

“That allegation was a lie,” he said.

He said the paper was sold by the Lord Tu’ivakanoo’s government and it was purchased by Publisher Kalafi Moala.

He said he understood the paper was then sold by Moala to Lawyer Clive Edwards.

He said the new owner now is former MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu and the government has nothing to do with it.

Song about love and loss in the 50s goes viral among Auckland Tongan community: “Just what we need” in time of pandemic says granddaughter

By
Kalino Latu
-

[maxbutton id=”2″ ]

A song written to commemorate a suitor who drowned at sea more than 60 years ago went viral among the Tongan community in Auckland this week.

The song, Simulata nofo ā or Simulata Noa, was written for Simulata Pope of Tongoleleka, Ha’apai in the 1950s.

The song has re-emerged in the past decade, being played by acoustic bands at kava sessions and recorded by some local electro-pop singers. But they only played and recorded three verses of the composition including the verse which contained Simulata’s name.

It was believed the song originally consisted of six verses.

It went viral in the Tongan community this week after its six verses were sung and livestreamed by Kaniva Tonga Entertainment on Wednesday morning. Since then the clip had been shared more than 1000 times, received 700 reactions and had also received 14,000 views.

Auckland-based documentary maker Simulata Mosimani Pope said it was “pretty buzzy” that people were singing for her grandmother, for whom the song was written.

“Discovering a legacy that derives from true love is just what we need for this pandemic!”  she told Kaniva News.

Despite the song being more than half a century old, and its music and lyrics being simple and straight forward (hualela), a phrase and the name Simulata made it catchy to today’s listeners.

The phrase “inu mai ha ma’anga tahi” or “’ai mai ha ma’anga tahi” – longing to drink a mouthful of seawater, has become compelling.

The song’s popularity has been boosted by so many people staying online during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Men romantically and fondly called their wives or lovers online as Simulata and in return their lovers jokingly responded by saying – it looked like you have been drinking too much seawater.

Mosimani said she first listened to the song in 2013 and has been researching its origins ever since. She asked her father about the song and the mystery began to unravel.

Since then she has travelled to Tonga and other countries where the song was very popular, being played in faikava settings.

“I came to a bit of a standstill in my findings but since the lockdown has happened and the song went viral I decided to open up the search books again,” Mosimani said.

According to the song her grandmother’s suitor died at sea in Ha’apai while he was on a trip to Kao island in the 1950s.  He was in his late teens.

The suitor was one of two twins from Ha’ato’u, Ha’apai but Mosimani has been contacting their family to find out who was the one who courted her grandmother.

Mosimani told Kaniva News her findings appeared to show the composer was Tala-Ki-Ha’amoa, a herald of Lord Tu’ilakepa and whose real name was Sione Tapu’osi Hungalu of Ofu, Vava’u.

A relative told Kaniva News that Hungalu died in 1996.

Simulata Snr died in early 1980s in Ha’apai.

Mosimani said she had found a number of different versions of the original song and collected some promising information from some sources including players who first sang and played the song.

“I would like to acknowledge SiekafaMedia1 retake on the song as it really opened up an online platform,” she said.

“From my one social media post I managed to find all sorts of connections and people to the song.”

She said that during her research people had been able to confirm or correct  information for her and she met a son of one of the musicians who played the original.

Malosi Pictures, which produced the acclaimed For My Father’s Kingdom were helping her make a documentary about her research.

She planned to release a documentary film on her findings soon.

“This quest was never important to anyone as much as it was for me,” she said.

“I never met my namesake and in this time of a crisis I have never felt so close to her.

“From a romance that she had in the 1950s, I have met so many people, reconnected with so many friends and family and being humbled by how life was back in Ha’apai.”

Mosimani said she set out to find the original lyrics which included more verses.

“Now, I’ve found more than the lyrics,” she said.

“Not only did I find the original verses, I’ve had people from the original bands that travelled with the song, I’ve had people who recorded the song on radio in the 60s and I now have leads to the family where Simulata’s lover came from.”

If anyone has any information further about Simulata or Simulata Noa or about the twins Tevita and Samisoni living in Ha’atou in 1955 please email simulatapope@gmail.com

The song:

Some places in the song belong to Ha’ato’u, Ha’apai. These included Molaea, Velata, Tūkunga  and Siale Afuhia. According to Mosimani’s findings, some versions show the first line of the second verse was Simulata Noa while others showed it was Simulata nofo.

Si’i hilinoa he ‘i Molaea
Ko e fua ia ‘o e Tu’ilakepa
‘I he kolotau he ko Velata
Ko e moto ‘o e siale afuhia.

Simulata nofo fai ho loto
Ka e tuku au a au na’e mahino
‘Eku fiema’u ho fo’i sino
Ke ke hoko ko hoku losalio.

Ke u ‘ai mai ha ma’anga tahi
Ke ta vahevahe he ‘i kilisitahi
Mo ta vahe ua ‘a si’eku ‘ofa ni
Ke ke ‘ilo ko e ‘ofa ‘oku lahi.

Peheange mai ko ha mate ‘i ‘uta
Ke u fua koe ki Tukunga
Ke ke huki ai he’eku mātu’a
Ka u tā pata ke tu’umo’unga.

Peheange mai ko ha puke lahi
Ke u hela’i a hao feinga’i
‘Ou milimili si’ao mamahi
Ke ke hoko ko e vaikau’aki.

Ke ke sio mai ‘i hoku sino
Kuo tauanga’a ‘i he tokoto
‘E Tiloau ho to Fakapō
Motukia ‘i he motu ko Kao.

'Oku pehe ko e hiva Simulata koe hiva ia ne fa'u he ta'u 1957 e Talakiha’amoa hange kiate au ko e hingoa matapule ia o e tokotaha ko Sione Tapuosi Hungalu . Tokua ko e hiva ni ne veesi 'e ono 'o hange ko ia 'oku hiki atu 'i lalo. Na'e toki hiki me'alea 'uhila leva hono fo'i veesi pe 'e tolu 'o tuku ange mai he kamata'anga 'o e ta'u ni. Ko e tolu ko ia ne kamata'aki ia e veesi ua 'o e 'olisinolo' 'a ia ne kamata'aki 'a e Simulata. 'Oku ai mo e fakamatala 'e taha pehe 'oku 'ikai ko e fasi totonu ia 'o e 'olisinolo' 'a 'eni ne toki hiki me'alea 'uhila'i mai ko eni. Ne kehe tokua hono fasi ne 'uluaki hiva'i 'aki. Kaekehe kei 'atā pe fakatotolo mo ha taha 'e tanaki mai. Ko e ki'i hiki live atu pe 'ena 'ikai ke u fakapapau'i pe 'oku tonu 'a e silapa mo e anga hono hiva'i pe 'ikai. Ko e 'atunga pe 'eni lokatauni ha pe me'a 'e ala ma'u tau 'ai ia kae toki fakatonutonu hahaha. Ko e fakamatala kou 'oatu ko e to'o mai pe mei he'etau peesi 'o e Ngaahi Hiva Kakala FakaTonga mo hono Ngaahi 'Uhinga. 'Oku pehe 'e he fakamatala ai ko e ma'u e veesi 'e ono ko eni mei he pepa hiva 'a e kau tame'a Laukaupo'uli mei Te'ekiu. Mahalo ko ha pepa 'a Peni Palei mo e kau tama tame'a ko ia oku pehe ne nau ta holo e hiva ni he taimi ko ee. 'Oku lahi pe mo e 'u fakamatala poupou holo heni he Feisipuka ki he pehe ko e fo'i hiva na'e veesi ono ko 'eni pea ko e hiva fuoloa, na'e fa'u ia te'eki fa'ele'i e tokolahi heni. Si'i hilinoa he 'i Molaea,Ko e fua ia 'o e Tu'ilakepa,'I he kolotau he ko Velata,Ko e moto 'o e siale afuhia.Simulata nofo fai ho loto,Ka e tuku au a au na'e mahino,'Eku fiema'u ho fo'i sino,Ke ke hoko ko hoku losalio.Ke u 'ai mai ha ma'anga tahi,Ke ta vahevahe he 'i kilisitahi,Mo ta vahe ua 'a si'eku 'ofa ni,Ke ke 'ilo ko e 'ofa 'oku lahi.Peheange mai ko ha mate 'i 'uta,Ke u fua koe ki Tukunga,Ke ke huki ai he'eku mātu'a,Ka u tā pata ke tu'umo'unga.Peheange mai ko ha puke lahi,Ke u hela'i a hao feinga'i,'Ou milimili si'ao mamahi,Ke ke hoko ko e vaikau'aki.Ke ke sio mai 'i hoku sino,Kuo tauanga'a 'i he tokoto'E Tiloau ho to Fakapō,Motukia 'i he motu ko Kao.

Posted by Lino Lātū on Monday, April 27, 2020

The main points

  • A song written to commemorate a suitor who drowned at sea more than 60 years ago went viral among the Tongan community in Auckland this week.
  • The song, Simulata Noa, was written for Simulata Pope in the 1950s.

Pōhiva asked for resignation letter to be prepared; Police Minister sought legal advice

By
Kalino Latu
-

[maxbutton id=”2″ ]

Former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s media adviser Lōpeti Senituli said today Hon. Pōhiva told him to prepare his letter of resignation before he was sent to New Zealand for treatment for the last time.

But he said that when the late premier asked him again about resigning while he was in intensive care, he told him he should not make such a decision when he was dying.

Senituli said the then Minister of Police, Māteni Tapueluelu, had asked the Acting Attorney General `Āminiasi Kefu for advice on what procedure Hon. Pōhiva should take if he wanted to resign as Prime Minister.

Kefu told Kaniva News Hon. Tapueluelu had asked him as Minister of Police to advise him on the legal procedure if Hon. Pōhiva resigned as Prime Minister but held on to his Parliamentary seat.

He said he had no basis for questioning why the Police Minster wanted the advice.

“As far as I understood and remembered, the Prime Minister was in the Vaiola hospital at the time and he was sick,” Kefu said.

“I thought the Prime Minister needed to understand the laws for resignation and what to do after he resigned and the procedure for electing a new Prime Minister so the transfer of premiership and its roles could be made smoothly and peacefully.

That legal advice was given in writing to  Hon. Tapueluelu on April 29 last year.

He said the Minister told him he had given his legal advice to the Prime Minister.

Senituli said Hon. Pohiva asked him for his advice in early 2019 on how he would resign from the premiership.

“I told him it was best for him to resign from premiership and also as MP at the same time,” he said.

Senituli said that Hon. Pohiva had asked him again about a resignation letter while he was in intensive care.

“However, I  told him we had already crossed that bridge,” he said.

“I told him he should have resigned while he was in good condition.

“He was now dying and he should not make such a serious and historical decision while he was in that state.

“He told me to go and think about it and come and talk to him again.

“When I returned and entered the ICU he noticed I did not carry in my hands any document and than he asked me: ‘Where is the resignation letter?’

“I gave him the same answer. He was silent for some minutes before telling me to ask the nurse for a pen and paper and I wrote down his last words for the nation. That script was written on his grave at Telekava.”

The main points

  • Former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s media adviser Lopeti Senituli said today Hon. Pohiva told him to prepare his letter of resignation before he was sent to New Zealand for treatment for the last time.
  • Senituli denied claims by MP Mateni Tapueluelu that the late Prime Minister had asked him for a letter of resignation while he was in hospital.

PM Tu‘i‘onetoa says claims by PTOA frontliners that king intervened in multi-million pa‘anga roading project deal are “malicious” lies

By
Kalino Latu
-

[maxbutton id=”2″ ]

Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa has labelled as lies claims he had received a letter from King Tupou VI ordering the government to stop paying millions of pa’anga for three quarries from which government intended to buy rocks for its roading project.

The Prime Minister’s Office accused PTOA Party supporters of malicious attempts to discredit the government by sharing false information on social media.

The denial came after the PTOA’s Hardtalk Livestream United States-based presenter, Tilila Siola’a Walker Sumchai, claimed on the PTOA’s Facebook group, known as PTOA Tonga Global Political Movement, that King Tupou VI often viewed the group’s posts.

In Tongan she alleged in a post on April 24 that the king has stopped the government paying TP$27 million for the quarries which belonged to former MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu and businessman Saia Moehau. She claimed this had caused chaos among those involved (“hoka e hulohula.”)

Sumchai’s allegation was part of a campaign by some PTOA supporters against Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s Roading Project.

The PTOA Core Team’s secretary MP Siaosi Pōhiva told supporters during a feast in Auckland recently Sumchai’s Hardtalk Livestream did not represent the Party.

The Prime Minister’s Office denied His Majesty had ever communicated with the Prime Minister regarding purchasing of quarries.

“There was no truth in this defamatory accusation,” the office said in Tongan.

It claimed these PTOA supporters had misled the public by using the king’s name and feeding them misinformation.

The Office had  previously denied allegations on social media that Cabinet Ministers, including the Chief Secretary, had approved their massive pay rise of $50,000 each.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the Cabinet’s pay rise was controlled by the Remuneration Authority.

Quarries

The Prime Minister told FM87.5 that the government had hired three quarries in Tongatapu and one in Vava’u for the roading project. He said two quarries belonging to two ministers were among the three in Tongatapu.

He previously told Kaniva News the ministers were Lord Ma’afu and Lord Nuku. He did not identify the owner of the third quarry and the owner of the one in Vava’u.

The government would buy rock from the quarries for TP$70 a truck load.

The main points

  • Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa has labelled as lies claims he had received a letter from King Tupou VI ordering the government to stop paying millions of pa’anga for three quarries from which government intended to buy rocks for its roading project.
  • The Prime Minister’s Office accused PTOA Party supporters of malicious attempts to discredit the government by sharing false information on social media.

For more information

PM Talking Points: Lack of equipment, work practices meant road project missed deadline, but PM says changes plans will help make plan a success

PTOA Core Team must restructure its governing body to reflect neutrality, democracy and ability to run gov’t

By
Kalino Latu
-

[maxbutton id=”2″ ]

Kaniva News commentary

The Democratic Party must restructure its governing body to reflect transparency, good governance and accountability, something its founder, the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva campaigned for during his 30-year political struggle to reform Tonga’s political system.

The redesign must include reforming the Party’s Core Team to become a platform that is immune to accusations of nepotism, favoritism and corruption.

The Core Team and its members, which is currently made up entirely of Party MPs, must be seen as a government model in which the public can scrutinise their performance from time to time even if they are not running the government.

The restructuring must include assigning the Party’s offices and administrative roles to its activists who are not MPs, something that is already happening in New Zealand.

The Party must be regulated, registered properly and have a manifesto and guidelines for how to investigate and punish members who have broken the rules. There must also be clear guidelines on how the MPs and candidates are chosen.

The Core Team has recently been criticised for its lack of transparency and accountability in its decision to forgive MP Mateni Tapueluelu after claims were made that he and his brother-in-law Siaosi Pohiva had engaged in a power struggle that may have lost the Party the government in 2019.

Siaosi and Tapueluelu’s presence at the meeting and participation in the discussion to decide the fate of Tapueluelu will be seen by many as improper and may undermine the public’s confidence in the Core Team’s impartiality.

They should not have been allowed to attend or participate in deciding what should be done to them because that gave them the opportunity to influence the decision makers.

It is a principle of natural justice that no person can judge a case in which they have an interest.

It is always good to forgive, but when it comes to politics, forgiveness has to go hand in hand with justice and fairness. We have seen the  benefits of this approach in democratic judicial systems.

Justice systems treat forgiveness as a process that must include punishment, restoration and deterrence.

Those who do break the rules must be punished and the severity of their punishment must be handed down according to the seriousness of the offence. This should be followed by a restorative process where the offence including the offender, the victim, and the communities of each collectively resolve how to deal with the aftermath of the  act with an emphasis on repairing the harm.

Tapueluelu’s accusation about why the Party lost the government, allegations against Dr Tu’i Uata and Dr Uata’s counter-claims were serious matters. Tapueluelu also reportedly accused the Core Team’s leadership of being corrupt.

The Core Team should have selected an independent committee to investigate and to find out whether the accusations and the counter claims were true or not before any decision was made. The outcome of such investigation should have been made public.

The Core Team owes it to the public and its supporters to hold those who were responsible for the government’s loss in 2019 to account.

There has been a strong feeling in the public that because the Core Team did not do enough to fix a serious accusation against some of its key members the issue will erupt again. This does  not look good for the Party’s campaign for next year’s general election.

Siaosi was ‘Akilisi’s eldest son and Tapueluelu’s wife is Siaosi’s young sister. The Tongan practice of veitapui in which the brother must treat the sister with utmost respect and admiration was still strong amongst ‘Akilisi’s children, who were well educated and disciplined.

Some may question whether the Tongan tradition of foha lahi taha’s (eldest son)  entitlement to all the family possession and land, which is also coupled with the cultural responsibility to forgive whatever shortfalls his young siblings may have, might have been a factor in the Core Team’s decision in favour of Tapueluelu.

This also begs the question of whether the Party was established as a political tool for ‘Akilisi’s family to assist them in their political campaign. Does this mean anybody who opposes them has to be dismissed? There were similar instances in the past where former Party MPs were being sacked without giving them a chance to defend their cases. 

The arguments, accusations and counter accusations that have flown backwards and forwards between senior members of the PTOA are matters of public interest and concern for all Tongans and those interested in the future of the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s vision of democracy for Tonga.

Reform and regulating of the Core Team are essential if the PTOA is to win the next election. Similarly, as a party representing both the kingdom’s culture and its democratic future, every effort must be made to ensure that the country’s traditions are seen by the party’s supporters as a symbol of strength and not as an excuse for what some might think was questionable decision making.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 enjoins the faithful to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” We do not suggest that any evil has been committed in this instance, but it might be well for the PTOA Core Team to consider very strongly about the need to abstain from any appearance of favouritism, unseemly quarreling and too hasty decision making.

If the PTOA wants to win back the gains made by the late ‘Akiliksi Pohiva it must appear at all times to be disciplined, transparent, honest and united.

Students get fare-free bus rides amid Covid-19 restriction measures

By
Kalino Latu
-

[maxbutton id=”2″ ]

As students around the kingdom are heading back to school, the government has announced students travelling on Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua buses will receive free fares through a three-week period subsidy offer.

The Ministry of Education said it believed the timeframe would give sufficient time for communities, families and kava clubs to refresh before they start supporting their students’ transport costs.

This offer comes as part of the COVID-19 Education Cluster Relief to ensure students can attend school, it said.

“A high number of buses are being utilised for transportation to ensure that social distancing is reasonably practiced as per direction from the Ministry of Health.” the Ministry said.

“We hereby acknowledge the assistance given by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sia’atoutai College and Tupou College, and private bus companies in the transportation of students to and from schools.”

Tonga is still COVID-19 free and the Minister of Education previously said the continued school closures which was relaxed on April 14 will have a detrimental impact on pupil progress.

“The Ministry once again encouraged parents to ensure their students are attending schools.”

Fanongonongo ‘o ha ngaahi liliu mei he Poate Ako ‘a e Sutton Park, Mangere

By
Kaniva Staff
-

SUTTON PARK SCHOOL

89 Vine Street, Mangere East, Auckland 2024

Telephone (09) 276 4560

Principal: Fa’atili Iosua Esera

26 ‘Epeleli 2020

‘Oku ou ‘ofa lahi atu kiate kimoutolu kotoa pē mei ‘api na.

Koe ongoongo fakafiefia’aupito ‘a ‘etau hao kotoa mo hotau ngaahi fāmili mei he Covid19.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ngalo ‘ihe ‘etau manatu ‘a e mahaki faka’auha koia ko e mofi Siamane na’a ne uesia lahi ‘a e ngaahi fonua ‘o e Pasifiki ‘a ia ko ‘e ta’u ‘aki ‘e teau ‘ene hoko ki he ‘Epeleli ‘o e ta’u ni.  Ko e ngaahi mou’i ne mole ai na’e fu’u tokolahi ange ‘ene hoko ki he ngaahi fonua ‘o e Pasifiki ‘i Nu’usila ni.  Koe kakai ‘e toko 38,000 na’e mole ‘enau mo’ui ‘i Ha’amoa pea koe kakai ‘e toko 6,400 pe na’e mole ‘enau mo’ui ‘i Nu’usila ni.  Pea te tau fakahoa ‘eni ki he toko 14 pe kuo mole ‘enau mo’ui ‘i he lolotonga ni.  Ko ia ai ‘oku tau ongo’i fiefia mo hounga’ia ‘i he ‘ikai lahi ha mo’ui ‘e mole.

‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e ngaahi liliu mahu’inga kuo fakahoko ‘e he Poate Talasiti ‘oku fiema’u ke mou ‘ilo kiai ‘i he taimi ko ‘eni ‘oku tau teuteu atu ki he fokotu’u ‘ae ako.

  1.   ‘E kei hokohoko atu pe ‘ae fakataputapui ‘o e ‘apiako Sutton Park pea koe fānau ako moe kau ngāue ‘o e ‘apiako pē, ‘oku ngofua ke nau hū ki loto ‘apiako.  Ko e keiti ‘e loka mei he 9 pongipongi ki he 2.30 efiafi.
  2. Kuo pau ke ma’u ha’o ngofua ki mu’a pea ke toki lava ke ‘a’ahi pe hū ki loto ‘apiako.

iii.             Kuo ‘osi vahevahe mahino ‘a e fanau ako ki he ngaahi taimi te nau kamata ai, taimi tuku ‘ae ako, taimi mālōlō si’i moe mālōlō lahi.

  1.             Kuo ‘osi tufaki atu foki ‘a e ngaahi me’a ngāue fakakomipiuta ki he fānau kalasi 5 kihe kalasi 8.  Kuo meimei tofuhia ‘a e ngaahi  famili kotoa ‘i he naunau fakakomipiuta ko ‘eni. ‘Okapau ‘oku ‘oatu ha naunau fakakomipiuta ‘e ua ki ho’o famili, kātaki ‘o tokanga’i lelei ‘eni he ‘e ‘ikai lava ‘e he ‘apiako ke toe ‘oatu hano fetongi.  Ko ia ai kātaki ‘o tokanga’i lelei ‘a e ngaahi naunau ko ‘eni.
  2.         ‘E lava pē ke vahevahe taimi ‘a e fānau ke nau ngāue kotoa ‘aki ‘okapau ‘oku ‘iai ha fānau mei he ngaahi kalasi iiki.
  3.       ‘E ‘iai ‘ae ngaahi ngāue ‘e teuteu’i ma’ae fānau ‘i he kalasi 1 ki he kalasi 4.

vii.      ‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e ngaahi polokalama ako ‘i he televisone ma’ae fānau.

viii.     ‘Oku fiema’u ke tui ‘e he fānau ako moe kau faiako ha me’a ke malu’i honau ngutu (face mask) ‘i he taimi kotoa te nau ‘i he ‘apiako ai.

  1.       ‘E ‘iai ‘a e ngaahi me’a ‘e fakamamafa’i ke muimui pau ki ai ‘a e fanau ako.  Ko e ngaahi kalasi kotoa pē te nau ngāue fakafo’ituitui ki he ngaahi me’a te nau felotoi ke fakahoko.
  2.     ‘E tāpuni ‘a e Canteen, Breakfast club, Lunch time club, SKIDs ‘i he lolotonga ni.
  3.       Koe me’atokoni kotoa pē ‘a e fānau ke ‘omai mei ‘api.  ‘Oku toe fiema’u ke nau taki taha ‘omai ha hina vai ko honau inu.

‘E kei hokohoko atu pē ‘emau vakai’i ‘a e ngaahi liliu ko ‘eni ‘o fakataumu’a ki he mo’ui lelei moe malu ‘a e fānau ako, kau ngāue ‘o e ‘apiako moe komiuniti foki.  ‘E fu’u fiema’u ho’o tokoni ke fakahoko lelei ‘aki ‘a e ngaahi liliu ko ‘eni, pea te mau toe vakai’i ‘eni ‘i he faka’osinga ‘o e teemi.

‘Oku fiema’u ke mou ‘ilo ki ai, ‘okapau ‘e ma’u ‘e ha taha ‘o e fānau ako pē koe kau ngāue ‘o e ‘apiako ‘ae vailasí, kuo pau ke tapuni ‘a e ‘apiako ‘o toe loloa atu.

Ko e ma’u ako ‘a e fānau ‘i he levolo 3 ‘oku makatu’unga pē ia ‘i he loto ki ai ‘a e mātu’a.  ‘Okapau ‘oku ke ongo’i ‘oku malu ange pē ho’o fānau ‘i he nofo ‘i ‘api, pea ‘e ‘iai ha taha ke ne tokanga’i kinautolu, pea ‘e lelei ‘aupito ke nau nofo pe ‘i ‘api.  ‘E kei hokohoko atu pē ‘a e kau faiako hono tuku atu ‘a e ngaahi ngaue fakaako ‘i he on-line pea mo ha ngaahi ngāue ma’ae fānau ‘oku nau nofo ‘i ‘api.

Ka ‘i he lolotonga ni, ko ‘api pē ‘a e feitu’u malu taha ki ho’o fānau.  ‘Oku mau feinga ke fai ha ngaahi liliu mahu’inga ‘o fakataumu’a pē ki he malu mo hao ‘etau fānau moe kau ngāue ‘o e ‘apiako.  Ka neongo ia, ‘e ‘ikai lava ‘a e Poate Talasiti ‘o e ‘apiako ke ne fakapapau’i atu ‘e malu ho’o ki’i tamasi’i pē ta’ahine mei he vailasi ‘o e Covid-19 ‘i he ‘ene ha’u kihe ako.

Ko e fakataputapui foki ko ‘eni koe faingamālie lelei taha ‘eni ke ke feohi vāofi ai mo ho’o fānau.  ‘Oku lelei ‘a e fa’a pōtalanoa ‘o vahevahe ‘a e ngaahi tukufakaholo ‘o e famili, ako ke tā ha me’alea, vahevahe ‘a e ngaahi talanoa fakatonga motu’a, koe ako ki he feime’atokoni hangē koe fei’umu.  ‘Oku lahi ‘a e ngaahi faingamālie ke lau ha ngaahi talanoa, lau ‘a e Tohitapu, lava ke fai ha lotu, lea fakamālō, fa’u ha maau pē hiva, faitohi pē tohi ha’o kaati talamonū ki ha taha na’e puke.  Ko e toe faingamālie lahi ‘eni ke ako ai ‘ae fānau meiate koe.  Ko e ngaahi me’a kotoa ko iá, ‘e tauhi ia ‘e he fānau ko ‘enau mata’ikoloa ki he kaha’u. ‘Oku toe mahu’inga foki ke ‘oua na’a ke ongo’I mafasia mo ho’o fanau ‘i he ngaahi ngāue fakaako ‘oku tuku atu ‘i he online pē ko e ngāue ‘oku ‘oatu ‘e he faiako fakakalasi.

Kapau ‘oku ke toe fiema’u ha tokoni makehe pea ke fetu’utaki mai kiate au ‘i he tu’asila principal@suttonpark.school.nz pē tuku mai ha fekau ‘i he telefoni 021-250-6684.  Fakatauange pē ’e kei hokohoko atu ‘etau nofo malu mo hao ‘i he to’ukupu ‘oe ‘Otua Māfimafi, kae ‘oua leva kuo tau toe fakatahataha mai koe famili pe ‘e taha.

Faka’apa’apa atu,

Fa’atili Iosua Esera

Tumuaki/Pulea’oga/Puleako

Master of Education [Merit]

 

 

 

1...448449450...958Page 449 of 958